Mangalvedha villagers call off poll boycott

SOLAPUR: The poll boycott call given by 22 villages in Mangalvedha taluka of Solapur district was withdrawn on Tuesday after village representatives met NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Baramati. The villagers had called for the boycott to protest years of "gross neglect" by the state, vis-?-vis their demands for water projects.
Mangalvedha, which is politically controlled by the NCP, is part of the Solapur Lok Sabha (LS) constituency.This is from where senior Congress leader and Pawar's close friend Sushilkumar Shinde is contesting the LS elections.
All the 22 villages in Mangalvedha, located in the western part of the taluka bordering Karnataka, fall under the rain shadow area. Water scarcity is a major issue here and the boycott call had put Shinde in a spot.
"Discontent remains in five to six villages, but the boycott call stands withdrawn. Sharad Pawar had assured us he will study the issue and discuss it with the state officials for a long-term solution," said Pandurang Chaugule, deputy sarpanch of Bhalawli, while speaking to TOI on Wednesday.
Chaugule, who led the negotiations on behalf of the 22 villages, said, "People were angry that Mangalvedha's water requirements have been neglected for the last three decades. We hope that Pawar will provide the solution."
Chaugule said the villagers were demanding water from the Nira right bank canal (NRBC). Presently, water from the Nira dam reaches up to the borders of Sangola taluka, neighbouring Mangalvedha. "Pawar has said he will discuss with officials whether the demand is feasible or if water could be provided from any other source," he added.
Apart from Chaugule, the other villages were represented by Babasaheb Beldar (Khadki), Sambhaji Lawate (Redde), Imtiaz Patel and Ankush Padole (both from Khupsangi), Jaisinghrai Nikam, Rambhau Khatal, Dadasaheb Garande, among others.
The withdrawal of the boycott stir comes as a major relief for Shinde, as he can breathe easy on the eve of the polling day.